Improvement in fire-shields



H. R'EIGER Improvement in Fire Shields.

No. 121,421. E* (X. q'/ rented Nov. 28.51871. ill,

winzige; @ummm i) W//M/ UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HENRY Rl'EGER, OF BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-SHIELDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,421, dated November28, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY RLEGER, of Beaufort, in the county of Carteretand State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Fire-Shields; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilledin the art to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide convenient and efficientmeans for preventing the spread of res in cities and villages; and itconsists in a portable adjustable shield or screen, formed of fire-proofplates or sheets mounted on wheels, so that the same can be transportedfrom place to place and be applied with expedition, the construction andarrangement being as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure lis an elevation showing a side viewof the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of Fig. l taken on theline a: 4v.

Similarletters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a light frame or platform, supported on the axles B of thewheels C, but raised above and projecting over the wheels, as seen inthe drawing. D D are two pairs of stanchions, attached at the bottom tothe platform A, and connected at their top ends at E E. F is a pulleyhanging from the center of each pair. G represents an upright rod ateach corner, or one for each stanchion, rigidly connected to theplatform, and extending up about half way, more or less, to the top ofthe stanchion. The upper ends of these rods are curved and forked, andeach contains a pulley, H, as seen in both gures. T

is a brace for each of the rods G, on which horizontal pulley-shafts J Jare supported. K is a horizontal pulley-shaft at each corner of theplatform, supported by stands L. M is another horizontal pulley-shaft ateach corner of the platform. All these shafts are provided with cranksN, by means of which they are revolved, and with ratchet-wheels andpawls, by which back movement is prevented. O represents sheets orplates of metal or other incombustible material, which are suspendedfrom the stanchions and from the rods G by means of the chains P, and

,are raised and lowered by means of the crank pulley-shafts, arranged asalready described.

The plates O are so arranged that they work independently of each other,and they may be adjusted in a mass or so as to present two or morethicknesses to the heat or flame of a burning building. The sheets orplates O may be of any required thickness and size, and any requirednumber of them may be used. By interposing this shield between buildingsone of which is on lire the re may be confined to narrow limits and muchproperty saved.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The platform A, raised above and projecting over thewheels, the stanchions D, connected at the top E, and provided withhanging pulleys F, the corner rods G, curved, forked, and provided withpulleys H and braces I, the crank pulley-shafts KM, and pendent platesO, all combined, constructed, and arranged as described to form animproved ireshield.

HENRY RIEGER. Witnesses:

T. W. LINDSAY, C. S. BELL. (4.)

